A water reservoir is under construction in Gam around Wazintet administrative area, Hamelmalo sub-zone, in a bid to ease potable water supply problem and promote irrigation farming.

Hamelmalo, 20 April 2010 - A water reservoir is under construction in Gam around Wazintet administrative area, Hamelmalo sub-zone, in a bid to ease potable water supply problem and promote irrigation farming.

The reservoir being constructed at a cost of 1.4 million Nakfa has the capacity of holding over 40,000 cubic meters of water, and is expected to provide potable water supply to the inhabitants of Gam and Wazintet.

The supervisor of the project, Mr. Yonas Abraham, explained that 80% of the task has so far been accomplished in which the local inhabitants are taking active participation. On top of its contribution in easing potable water supply problem, the reservoir is expected to irrigate the nearby 30 hectares through enriching underground water resource, he elaborated.

Mr. Yonas went on to say that 10 Km-long terracing and about 2,500 cubic meters of embankments have been put in place so as to prevent the reservoir from getting filled with silt.

The Administrator of Wazintet administrative area, Mr. Jimi’e Bekit Mahmoud, indicated that the project is part of the ongoing national reconstruction and development drive and called on the local inhabitants to enhance participation in this regard.

Previously, the local inhabitants used to travel for about 10 kilometers to fetch water from the Anseba River.